> Surgery as Treatment Option for Lung Cancer - Risks of Lung Cancer Surgery, Questions to Ask your Doctor, Surgery Pictures
(October 9th, 2009)

> Researchers Seek Clinical Trial Patients for New Mesothelioma Drug: Gefitinib
(September 25th, 2009)

> Secondary Cancer in the Lymph Nodes - Role of Lymph Nodes in the Body & the Lymphatic System
(September 18th, 2009)

> Talcum Powder Slows Down Growth of Lung Cancer Tumors
(September 15th, 2009)

> Carbon Nanotubes that Look and Behave like Asbestos could cause Pleural Mesothelioma
(September 11th, 2009)

> Chest X-Rays Can Detect Early Lung Cancer, but also Alert many False-Positive Results
(September 7th, 2009)

> Peritoneal Mesothelioma – Cancer of the Peritoneum or Linings of the Abdomen - Symptoms of Peritoneal Lung Cancer, Role of Asbestos & Treatment Options
(August 31st, 2009)

> History and Advent of Cancer Treating Chemotherapy – Nitrogen Mustard as Anti-Cancer drug, Invention of Red Clover to treat Respiratory & Malignant Lung Cancers
(August 30th, 2009)

> Intra-peritoneal Therapy – Delivery of Chemotherapy Drugs in to Abdominal Cavity, Port and Catheter
(August 30th, 2009)

> Chemical Pleurodesis for Malignant Pleural Effusions or Fluids in Lungs
(August 26th, 2009)

> Evaluation of Pleural Thickening and its Effects on Development of Malignant Lung Cancer
(August 23rd, 2009)

> Chest X-Ray – Uses of Chest X-Rays, How to Prepare for X-Ray Session, Performance, Risks & Results, and Normal versus Abnormal Results
(August 15th, 2009)

> Multi-cystic Mesothelioma of the Peritoneum - Examinaton of the Pelvis, Abdominal Mass using Ultrasound, Process of Hysterectomy by a Gynecologist
(August 5th, 2009)

* > Mesothelioma Lung Cancer & Effects on Army, Navy & Marine Veterans - Asbestos Exposure in Battleships, Aircraft Carriers, Submarines and Navy Ships
(May 18th, 2009)

* Ruth Phillips - 10 Year Mesothelioma Survivor Living Large - Discussion of Immuno-Augmentive Therapy & Other Cancer Treatments
(May 5th, 2009)

* Prevention of Lung Cancer when You are at Risk, or when You Already Have Lung Cancer
(April 27th, 2009)

* Research Suggests Vitamin D Plays a Large Role in Preventing and Fighting Lung Cancer
(April 21st, 2009)

* What Types of Lung Cancer Exist? Differences between Small Cell & Non Small-Cell Lung Cancer
(April 15th, 2009)

* Steve Lee, 63, from Reading UK, Completes Half Marathon with Asbestos Lung Cancer
(April 8th, 2009)

* Basic & Advanced Symptoms of Mesothelioma & Common Misconceptions
(March 28th, 2009)

* Choosing Your Mesothelioma Doctor - Medical & Radiation Oncologists, Laparoscopic Surgeons
(February 4th, 2009)

* Study Suggests Computed Tomography (CT) Scans Increase Risk for Cancer Development - Mesothelioma News
(November 30th, 2008)

* Diagnosing Mesothelioma & Pathological Testing
(February 6th, 2009)

* Eat Fruits & Vegetables - Prevent Cancer and Stay Healthy
(January 12th, 2009)

* Gardening & Good Diet Leads to Less Lung Cancer Risk
(January 7th, 2008)

* PhotoDynamic Therapy - Types of Mesothelioma Treatments
(March 18th, 2008)

* Surviving Lung Cancer - Thoracic Surgeons Roll Out New Tumor Removal Procedure
(January 20th, 2009)

* Timing of Mesothelioma Cancer Treatment Options - Surgery, Chemotherapy & Radiation Therapy
(February 5th, 2008)

-> Mesothelioma is rarely developed by young people, and it has no relation with smoking, despite of rumours about this. Infact, Mesothelioma can take over 40 years to develop, before full diagnosis is realized!

-> There are about 200 - 500 cases of peritoneal mesothelioma each year, making it a very rare disease. Furthermore, peritoneal mesothelioma measures at about 20 - 30% of all mesothelioma cases in any given year. Approximately 54.7% of all the diagnoses are males and the rest are females. The median age when peritoneal mesothelioma develops is 65 - 69 years.

-> Fluid accumulated in the abdomen (also known as Ascites) is detected and removed through Paracentesis (a procedure that drains fluid from the abdomen of the body by the use of needles).

(View Archives)
 

Mesothelioma Treatment Options - Chemotherapy, Surgery, Radiation Therapy & Clinical Trials

i) Radiation Therapy

Radiation Therapy (radiotherapy) uses a high-dose of radiation signals (ionizing radiation) to kill or destroy cancerous tumors within the lungs. Radiotherapy injures the tumors in such a way that they will not be able to grow and divide, as well as not be able to enter the bloodstream and flow to other parts of the body. The type of radiation used can range from neutrons, photons, cobalt, high energy x-rays, etc. The purpose of radiation therapy is to either prevent future growth of malignant tumors (where no cancerous cells are currently present) and as a palliative treatment to help ease the pain and suffering created from the symptoms of mesothelioma.

External radiation as the name suggests uses a high energy beam produced by a machine outside of the body that targets the location of malignant tumors within the lungs inside of the body. The radiation beams created will attempt to shrink the malignant tumors inside of the body; this process is also known as neoadjuvant therapy. External radiation may also be given after an initial surgery is performed to prevent a recurrence or regrowth of malignant tumors within the body. This procedure is also known as an adjuvant therapy. External radiation therapy treatment can last between 3-5 weeks taking up about 5 days a week. Take a look at the image below to see how an external radiation machine works.

ii) Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the treatment of mesothelioma cancer by the use of chemical substances. It is the use of cytotoxic drugs to build a standardized treatment regime. Essentially the drugs are strong forms of antibotics.

Purposes of Chemotherapy

Depending on the age, health and when the person was diagnoised with mesothelioma cancer, chemotherapy can help in dramatic ways.

* Chemotherapy can stop or slow the growth of mesothelioma cancer cells
* The therapy can reduce the size of the tumor
* It can take away pain symptoms when reducing the tumor is not expected
* Chemotherapy can destroy microsocopic disease which remain after surgery

iii) Surgery

By itself or in combination with pre or post operative therapies, surgery has had disappointing results for people with mesothelioma. One treatment known as pleurectomy opens up the patients chest and then the doctor removes the mesothelioma tumor from the surface of the lung. Generally this treatment is to lessen pain, it is not a cure for mesothelioma. However, if used in early treatment combined with other forms of treatment such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy the patient's life can be prolonged. This treatment does have a low mortality rate when compared to more invasive procedures such as extrapleural pneumonectomy.

For patients in the early stages of mesothelioma they can use the radical surgery of extrapleural pneumonectomy. In this procedure portions of the lung are removed to drastically reduce mesothelioma cancer cells. This treatment does have the best record of removing mesothelioma cancer cells. However, this treatment is drastic and their is a higher chance of operative death than with pleurectomy.

 

 

 

 

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